Meat processing assembly

ABSTRACT

An improved processing assembly having a meat emulsion pump connected to a stuffing horn. The stuffing horn positioned to fill casings with meat emulsion which form a strand of processed meat that is received by a twister, then a linker, and subsequently deposited on a conveyor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/254,918 filed Oct. 26, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed toward a meat processing assembly and morespecifically to improvements for the meat pump, the stuffing horn, thetwister, the linker, and the conveyor.

Meat processing assemblies are known in the art and over the yearsimprovements have been made to enhance speed and efficiency when makinglinked meat products. Despite these improvements, deficiencies stillexist. For example, removing gears from a meat pump remains a difficulttime consuming process. With the twister, the use of a seal is stillsusceptible to wear and does not maximize heat reduction. To adjust thelinker for different products require separate linker heads. Finally,aligning the conveyor with the linker can be difficult particularly whenthe floor is uneven. Therefore, a need exists in the art for a meatprocessing assembly that addresses these deficiencies.

An object of the invention is to provide a pump that allows for the easyinstallation and removal of the gears.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the easy adjustment ofthe stuffing horn for different casing types.

A further objective of the present invention is to provide for the easyadjustment, installation, and removal of chains on a linker for use withdifferent length sausages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a linker that maintainsconstant tension in the linking chains.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustablechain spacing of a linker to eliminate backing plates, differentsprocket sizes, and different shaft spacing.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide anadjustable conveyor that may be fixed to a floor.

These and other objectives will be apparent to one of skill in the artbased upon the following disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A meat processing assembly having an improved meat emulsion pump thatallows for easier installation and removal of gears within a pumphousing. A horn adjustment assembly that permits the position of astuffing horn to be adjusted to eliminate the need for removing andreplacing stuffing horns of different lengths for use with differentcasing materials. An improved twister that reduces heat through use of anon-contact bearing isolator that shields the bearing from the exteriorenvironment. An improved linker that, through use of pistons connectedto idler sprockets, self-adjusts the linker assembly for differentrecipes and the easy removal and replacement of linker chains andconstant tension on the chains. The spacing is also adjustable fordifferent calibers and eliminates the need for adjustable backingplates, sprocket sizes, and shaft spacings. A process control systemthat permits links to be counted and controlled based on sensed data.Finally, an improved conveyor that is adjustable to provide for easypositioning of the looper of the conveyor with the output end of thelinker while maintaining a fixed base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a meat processing assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side plan sectional view of the pump;

FIG. 3 is a side plan sectional view of the pump;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pump helical gear;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the pump shaft;

FIG. 6 is a front plan view of the horn adjustment assembly;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the chuck;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of the linker;

FIG. 8A is a side plan view of the linker;

FIG. 8B is a side plan view of the linker;

FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the process control system;

FIG. 10 is a side plan view of the adjustable conveyor of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pump;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the horn adjustment assembly;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the chuck;

FIG. 14 is a side plan sectional view of the horn adjustment assembly;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of pump shaft; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the pump helical gear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, the meat processing assembly 10 has a frame 12with a meat emulsion pump 14 connected to a source of meat emulsion (notshown). A stuffing horn 16 is slidably and operably connected to thepump 14 and is longitudinally moveable by a horn adjustment assembly 18that is slidably mounted to guide shaft or cylinder carriage 20. Anelongated shirred casing 22 is mounted on horn 16 from casing hopper 24where the forward end of the horn 16 terminates at casing fillingstation 26 adjacent twister housing 28. The twister 28 has a hollowrotatable chuck 30 which receives filled casing 22 and rotates thecasing 22 before the filled casing moves into linker 32. The completedstrands of sausage 34 exit the linker 32 and are deposited on hooks 36of conveyor 38. The foregoing components are connected to and controlledby computer control 40.

Pump 14 has a gear housing 44, a pump housing weldment 46, and a pulleydriven drive shaft 50 that extends through a bore in the weldment 46along with an idler shaft 51. Attached to the drive and idlers shafts 50and 51, and disposed within gear housing 44, is a pair of gear locks 52.The gear locks 52 have a head 54 with a plurality of protrusions 55 thatextend outwardly from a central axis 56 of the lock 52. Below the head54 is a channel or groove 58 that separates the head 54 from the body 60of the lock 52. The body 60 has a diameter greater than the channel 58such that it forms a shoulder 62. Extending from the body 60 is a stem64 that has a threaded end 66. The threaded end 66 of the lock 52 ismatingly received by a threaded bore in the shaft 50.

The top end of the shaft 50 has a plurality of protrusions 68 thatextend upwardly and are positioned around the outer perimeter of theshaft such that gaps or grooves 70 are formed therebetween. A pair ofhelical gears 72 are removably mounted to the shafts 50 and 51 andsecured with the locks 52. The gears 72 have a top surface 74, a bottomsurface 76, and a plurality of helically formed teeth 78 on the outerperimeter of the gear 72. Centrally disposed through the gear 72 is abore 80. The bore 80 has a first section 82 that extends from the topsurface 74 to a shelf 83 and a second section 84 that extends from theshelf 83 to the bottom surface 76. The diameter of the second section 84of the bore 80 is slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft 50. Thediameter of the first section 82 of the bore 80 is slightly larger thanthe diameter of the channel 58 on the gear lock 52. The shelf 83 has aplurality of openings 85 that align with the protrusions 55 on the head54 to form a key slot. A top band 85A and a bottom band 85B are locatedon the second section 84 of the bore 80 and have a non-contact areatherebetween. The bands 85A and 85B fit within steps 87A and 87B on theouter surface of the shaft 50. This allows the gear to become free whenjacked-up about 6 mm.

To mount the gears 72 on the shafts 50, the gear 72 is placed over thehead 54 of the gear lock 52 and the gear 72 is rotated such that theopenings 85 are aligned with protrusions 55. In addition, theprotrusions 55 are aligned with protrusions 68 of the drive shaft 50.Once aligned, the gear is placed over the head 54 of the gear lock 52such that the shelf 83 of the gear 72 fit within the gaps 70 of theshaft 50 and engage shoulder 62 of the body 60 of the gear lock 52. Inthis position, both the gear 72 and the gear lock 52 are in a raisedposition in relation to shaft 50. To lower the gear 72, the gear lock 52is rotated such that the threaded end 66 of stem 64 is matingly receivedin the threaded bore of shaft 50. As the gear lock 52 is lowered so tois the gear 72. To lock the gear 72 in place, the gear lock 52 isrotated to a position such that the protrusions 55 cover and arevertically aligned with the shelf 82 of the gear 72 preventing verticalmovement of the gear 72. Once rotated into position, the gear drops partway onto the shaft until bands 85A and 85B contact steps 87A and 87B. Atthis point the top of the gear 72 is just below protrusions 55. Rotatingthe lock 52 forces the gear 72 down and bands 85A and 85B into fullengagement with steps 87A and 87B. The bores in the gears 72 and theexterior surface of shafts 50 are stepped such that engagement occursonly over a short vertical distance.

To remove the gear 72, the gear lock 52 is rotated the oppositedirection, thus raising the gear 72 and the gear lock 52 in relation tothe shaft 50 and the weldment 46. Once raised, the protrusions 55 arealigned with openings 85 and the gear 72 is lifted over and off the gearlock 52. The gear 72 and shaft 50 are thus stepped so that engagementoccurs at the top and a bottom of the gear 72 (at 62), allowing forminimum vertical movement of the gear in relation to the shaft 50 whenremoving the gear, as well as a tighter fit between gear and shaftwithout causing jams. Thus, a simplified pump has been shown where it iseasier to assemble and remove the gear.

The horn adjustment assembly 18 is attached to a cylinder carriage 20and stuffing horn 16. The assembly 18 has a positioning member 86 thatis slidably mounted to the cylinder shaft 20 through a generallycentrally located bore 88. The positioning member 86 is of any size andshape and preferably is a single piece of machinable composite materialhaving a first section or end 90, a second section or end 92, and achannel 94 disposed inbetween and forming shoulders 96 on both the firstand second sections 90, 92. Cut within the channel 94 are at least twogrooves 98, 100 that preferably are aligned parallel to the shoulders96. The first and second sections 90, 92 have apertures 102 positionedabove the channel 94 in spaced alignment that receive a pivot pin 104. Aflange 106 extends from the bottom of the positioning member 86 and hasat least two slots 108, 110 formed in the bottom edge 112 of the flange106.

A lever 114 having a first end 116 and a second end 118 is rotatablymounted to the pivot pin 104 at the first end 116 and the stuffing horn16 at the second end 118. The lever 114 is formed to fit within thegrooves 98, 100 on the positioning member 86. Positioned adjacent thesecond end 118 is an aperture 120 that receives a locking pin 122.

Mounted rotatably about the stuffing horn 16 is a locking bracket 124.The locking bracket 124 has a locking member 126 that extends outwardlyand transversely to a central section 128. The locking member 126 isformed and positioned to fit within slots 108, 110 on the bottom flange106 of the positioning member 86. The central section 128 preferably isa hollow cylindrical tube that attaches to the stuffing horn 16 and hasa cam slot 130 that receives a cam follower 132 attached to the lever114. Extending outwardly and transversely from the central section 128is an arm 134. The arm 134 is positioned such that it will disablerotation of the locking member 126.

When in a first locked position, the lever 114 is received in the firstgroove 98 of the positioning member 86, the locking member 126 isreceived in the first slot 108 of the flange 106, and the arm 134engages the locking pin 124 to prevent rotation of the locking member126 out of the slot 108. To unlock, the locking pin 124 is retractedsuch that it does not engage the arm 134 and the locking bracket 124 ispermitted to rotate about the stuffing horn 16 such that the lockingmember 126 is removed from the slot 108. The cam slot 130 and camfollower 132 limit the amount of rotation of the locking bracket 124.Once the locking bracket 124 is released, the lever 114, along with thestuffing horn 16 and locking bracket 124, are raised such that the lever114 is removed from the first groove 98. In locking the horn 16 into thecarriage 20, the cam action forces locking bracket 124 to act on aflange 125 on the horn 16 forcing a cone shaped boss 127 on the rear endof the horn 16 into a cone shaped receptacle 129 held by a bearing 131within the lever assembly. In doing so, the horn 16 is positioned andsecured, but free to rotate. Also pin 104 is threaded into the lever116, but free to move back and forth within holes in the carriagesections 90 and 92. After removal, the lever 114 is slid along a pivotpin 104, aligned with the second groove 100, and then lowered to bereceived within the second groove 100. The locking pin 124 is thenretracted to permit the locking bracket 124 to be rotated back to asecond locked position where the locking member 126 is received in thesecond slot 110. The locking pin 124 is then released to engage the arm134 and hold the locking bracket 124 in a second locked position. Thisarrangement provides the advantage of being able to easily and quicklyadjust the effective length of the stuffing horn 16 with respect to thepositioning member 86 without having to remove and replace stuffinghorns 16 having different lengths.

Although the above describes a first locked position and a second lockedposition, additional locked positions are contemplated such as a third,fourth and so on. The same teaching above can be extrapolated by one ofordinary skill in the art to accomplish a countless number of lockedpositions.

The twisting housing 28 includes a first housing section 136 and asecond housing section 138 that are matingly held together by suitablescrews or bolts 139 in aligned threaded apertures 139A.

A pulley 142 includes a sleeve 144 and extends outwardly to engage thesecond housing member 138. Bearing isolators 148 extend around sleeve144. Bearing 150 is mounted within housing 28 and is shielded from chuck30 by the bearing isolator 148. By isolating the bearing 150 away fromchuck 30, significantly less heat is produced as the bearing isolator148 is non-contact.

The linker 32 has a pair of linker chain assemblies 152 that arepositioned in vertical alignment with one another. Each assembly 152 hasa pair of sprockets 154 or pulleys with at least one sprocket connectedto and driven by a motor (not shown). The sprockets include an extension156 that includes an alignment slot 158. The second, or idler sprocket154A is connected to a piston 160 that extends between the sprockets154. The piston 160 is of any type and preferably is pneumatic and isconnected to a source of compressed air (not shown). Also, preferablythe piston 160 is telescopic wherein a first section 160A slides withina second section 160B when extended or retracted. Each assembly 152 ismounted to a support member 162.

Support member 162, a part of the cabinet weldment, is utilized topermit movement of the assemblies 152 toward and away from one another.The support member 162 has a frame 162A that is secured to theassemblies 152. Attached within the frame is a movement assembly 163.The movement assembly 163 has a gear box 163A that connects a drive gear163B to the sprockets 154 through gear trains (not shown) residing ingearboxes 163A that form the rotating external arms holding the drivesprockets 154. The drive gear 163B is mounted to the gearbox 163A whichis mounted to the frame 162A. A U-shaped frame 163C has a pair of slots163D disposed therethrough so that a pair of arms 163E are slidablydisposed within the slots 163D. A pair of cams 163F are secured to thesupport member 162 and contain cam arms 163E that are attached on eitherside of the gearbox 163A so that vertical movement of the U-plate 163Ccauses movement of the arms 163E to slide within the slots 163D of theU-shaped member 163C and coincidentally pull a first linker chainassembly 152 toward the second linker chain assembly as best shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B. Thus, this movement allows for easy removal andinstallation of chains as well as finite spacing changes between theupper and lower chains from the touchscreen (formerly accomplished bymanually adjusting the backing plates in and out).

Mounted to the sprockets 154 are a pair of chains 164. The chains 164have one alignment pin 168 for each chain that is positioned to bereceived within the alignment slots 158 of the sprockets 154 to properlyalign the chains 164 based on the product size.

In operation, tension on the linking chain assembly 152 is created byactivation of the piston 160 by the controller 40. More specifically,based upon the product size, the controller 40, which is connected to asource of compressed air, releases air to the pistons 160 causing thepistons 160 to extend to place tension on the chains 164.

To remove a chain 164, the controller 40 releases pressure to thepistons 160. Separating the chains with the conveyor adjusted to theproduct length forces the piston sections to collapse and allows forremoval of the chains. Manually collapsing the pistons may also beperformed. Simultaneously, the vertical movement assembly 163 of thesupport member 162 can be used to move linking chain assemblies 152apart from one another. In this relaxed state, the chains 164 are easilyremoved from the sprockets 154. To add a new chain 164, the alignmentpin 168 on the chain 164 is placed in the alignment slot 158 on thesprocket 154. Once inserted, the controller 40 is activated such thatthe assemblies 152 move toward one another and the piston 160 extends toplace tension on the chain 164. The pneumatic pistons 160 allow formounting sets of chains 164 of different length without the need forfine tuning the backing plates.

In one embodiment, counting sausage links is done by the controller. Anencoder (i.e., pulse generator) is connected to the linking chains axisand provides a pulse stream to the controller. Preferably the pulsestream is scaled so that every 20 revolutions of the linking chainsprocket is at 13,500 counts with a roll over position set at zero. Thecontroller counts the number of times the value transitions from 13,500to zero.

When production begins, an initial count or snapshot is taken and storedin the controller for later calculation. As the device operates, pulsestreams are sent to the controller and transitions through a set number(i.e., 1350) are counted by the controller. When production stops asecond count or snapshot is taken and stored. The number of counts iscalculated from this information. The total number of counts divided bythe counts per sausage produces a sausage count for the just completedsausage strand.

In another embodiment, counting sausage links is done with help from asensor and the controller. The strand flow of the sausage is monitoredby the sensor, wherein the software allows the sensor and controller tocount the number of links in the strand of sausages, track the length ofthe individual segments of sausage in between successive links, andmonitor the diameter and contour of the strand of sausages.

The controller 40 is also in electronic communication with the sausageencasing machine such that the controller 40 has the ability to slowdown, speed up, or stop the machine based upon the output signal fromthe sensor 172 to maintain that the completed strand of sausagesconforms to the desired standards. If the controller 40 determines thatthe space in between successive links in the strand 34 of sausages istoo short (the sensed occurrence of links is sensed too frequently), thecontroller speeds up operation of the sausage encasing machine tolengthen the individual segments of sausage. Conversely, if thecontroller 40 determines that the space in between successive links inthe strand of sausages is too long (the sensed occurrence of links issensed too infrequently), the controller 40 slows down operation of thesausage encasing machine to lengthen the individual segments of sausage.If the controller 40 determines that no links are present in the chainof sausages for a predetermined amount of time, controller determinesthat a break in the casing has occurred and controller will shut downsausage encasing machine. The controller 40 also will shut down, oralternatively, alter the operation of the sausage encasing machine ifthe controller determines that the diameter of the strand 34 of sausagesis either too large or too small. In addition, at the end of the strand34, the controller 40 will speed up or slow down the conveyor 34 basedupon the links remaining after the last full loop so as to form asmaller or larger loop to catch and secure the strand over a hook.

In another embodiment, a pneumatic flow sensor on the exhaust of thefollower cylinder provides input to the controller. This information, inconjunction with other operating parameters, is used to determinewhether proper feeding of the casing into the chuck is occurring. Anundesirable situation, such as but not limited to casing wrapping on thestuffing horn, will interrupt the expected flow through the sensor,allowing the controller to pause or stop production and inform theoperator of a problem.

The adjustable conveyor 38 includes a frame 174, an adjustment member176, and an operating platform 178. The operating platform 178 issupported by the frame 174, and includes hooks 180 driven by a chain 182which rotate around the periphery of the operating platform 178. Theconveyor lays in a horizontal or vertical frame. At one end of theoperating platform is a loading point 184 adjacent to the output end ofa sausage encasing machine where a completed, looped strand 34 ofsausages is loaded onto hooks 180.

The lower section of the frame has a base 186 with support members 188extending upwardly therefrom. In one embodiment, wheels 190 are providedon the bottom of the base 186. The upper section of the frame includessleeves 192 adjustably mounted onto each of the four support members 188of the lower section of the frame to allow the operating platform 178 tobe raised or lowered. The upper section additionally includes segments194, each segment having a bottom end 196 pivotably mounted to eachsleeve and a top end 198 pivotably mounted to the operating platform178.

The adjustment member 176 causes the segments 194 to rotate or pivot toadjust the position of the operating platform 178. In one embodiment theadjustment member 176 is a turnbuckle. The turnbuckle is connected at abottom end to the base 186 and at a top end to the top end of one of thesegments 194. Alternatively, the top end of the turnbuckle 176 isconnected to the operating platform 178. Rotation of the turnbuckle inone direction causes the turnbuckle 176 to telescope inward, androtation of the turnbuckle 176 in the opposite direction causes theturnbuckle 176 to telescope outward, thereby rotating each segmentradially in unison to adjust the position of the operating platform. Assuch, the loading point 184 is easily aligned with the output end of thelinking chains.

Alternatively, the platform adjustment member is any device which wouldcause the segments, and, accordingly, the operating platform to rotate,including but not limited to a motor mounted to at least one segment, aratcheting mechanism, or a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.

1. A meat emulsion pump, comprising: a pair of drive shafts extendingthrough bores in a housing; a pair of gear locks threadably attached tothe drive shafts; and a pair of gears having a bore that fit over thegear locks and receives a portion of the gear locks and a portion of thedrive shafts such that the gear locks vertically moves the gear.
 2. Thepump of claim 1 wherein the drive shafts have a plurality of protrusionspositioned on the outer perimeter and extending upwardly.
 3. The pump ofclaim 1 wherein the gear locks have a head with a plurality ofprotrusions that extend outwardly from a central axis of the gear lock,and a channel that separates the head from a body, and a stem thatextends from the body.
 4. The pump of claim 1 wherein the gears have atop surface, a bottom surface, and a centrally disposed bore extendingtherethrough; the bore having a first section that extends from the topsurface to a shelf and a second section that extends from the shelf tothe bottom surface.
 5. A horn adjustment assembly, comprising: apositioning member mounted on a guide shaft; and a locking bracketmounted on a stuffing horn; wherein the locking bracket selectivelyengages the positioning member to lock the stuffing horn in place. 6.The assembly of claim 5 wherein a lever is rotatably mounted to thepositioning member at one end and is connected to the stuffing horn atthe opposite end.
 7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the positioningmember has a first section, a second section, a channel disposed betweenthe first and second section to form shoulder, and a plurality ofgrooves and slots.
 8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the lockingbracket has a locking member connected to a central section, an armconnected to the central section, and a locking pin positioned toselectively engage the arm.
 9. A twister for processing meat,comprising: a housing; a chuck disposed within the housing; at least onebearing isolator that extends around the chuck; and a bearing mountedwithin the housing and shielded from the chuck by the bearing isolator.10. A link forming mechanism, comprising: a pair of linker chainassemblies, the linker chain assemblies having a pair of sprocketsmounted on drive shafts with one of the sprockets connected to a piston;and a chain mounted to the sprockets.
 11. The linker of claim 10 whereinthe piston is pneumatically activated.
 12. The linker of claim 10wherein the linker chain assemblies are positioned in vertical spacedalignment.
 13. The linker of claim 10 wherein the sprockets have anextension with an alignment slot that receives an alignment pinconnected to the chain.
 14. The linker of claim 10 wherein the pair oflinker chain assemblies are mounted on support members that permitvertical movement of the assemblies toward and away from one another.15. A process control system, comprising: a sensor mounted to a linkerand positioned to sense a strand of processed meat as the strand exitsthe linker; the sensor is connected to a controller such that the sensortransmits sensed data to the controller; and the controller controls theoperation of a meat processing assembly based upon the sensed data. 16.The system of claim 15 wherein the controller counts the number of linksin the strand of sausage based upon the sensed data.
 17. The system ofclaim 15 wherein the speed of a conveyor is adjusted by the controllerbased upon the links remaining after a last full loop of the strand ofprocessed meat.
 18. A conveyor for processing meat, comprising: a frame;an operating platform having a plurality of hooks driven by a chain; andan adjustable member mounted to the frame that adjusts the position ofthe operating platform.
 19. The conveyor of claim 18 wherein theadjustable member is turnbuckle.
 20. The conveyor of claim 18 whereinthe frame has a base with support members extending upwardly from thebase, sleeves that are mounted to the support members, and segments thatare pivotally mounted to the sleeves.